Brighton sweeps up food and drink awards

Brighton businesses featured prominently at the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2006/2007 on 25 January at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa. Amongst the winners were Sussex and the City, 1 Paston Place and Bramptons of Brighton.

One Paston Place was awarded the Best Sussex Eating Experience; Brighton and Hove Farmers Market won Best Sussex Farmers Market; Brighton-based Sussex and the City took Best Sussex Food Shop; and Sussex Butcher of the Year went to Bramptons of Brighton. And runners up prizes went to Brighton's Pokeno Pies and Infinity Foods.

Winners and runners up in all six categories were treated to an evening of fabulous indulgence, along with many high profile guests, among them Peter Bayless, winner of Masterchef 2006, who made a come back appearance on the BBC2 show this week, and David McNair, Chief Executive of Food from Britain.

Chairman of the Judges, Clive Beddall OBE, underlined the quality of the winners during his speech and said, “Tonight gives us all the chance to publicly pay tribute to the hundreds of Sussex producers — and at the last count that was in excess of 400 and still growing — who take meticulous care in providing high-class food and drink.

“I’m delighted that Sussex is at the forefront of the national revolution that is seeing British producers blend classic quality with technological innovation to win the hearts — and wallets — of more and more shoppers. Indeed, thanks to their ingenuity and the help of organisations like A Taste of Sussex they are becoming the envy of the wider world of food and drink.

“But these awards are also highly topical since recent national research has shown that over 59% of the population is interested in buying locally produced food and that figure is growing by the week. So despite suggestions in the tabloids and elsewhere that we are a nation of junk food lovers, the statistics highlight the public’s growing eagerness to discover the provenance and traceability of the food that they eat.

“As well as giving the county’s food and drink producers an inspiration and a lifeline, these awards are providing a much-needed boost to local economies. After all, a strong Sussex food and drink industry helps to ensure that our farmers and producers have a future and can thus continue to provide the countryside that we all enjoy. And that’s a goal that we should all be striving to achieve!”

Paula Seager, Awards Director and Director of The Priory Partnership, organisers of the scheme said, “We are absolutely thrilled at how well these awards have been received and huge congratulations go to all our fabulous winners and to our wonderful sponsors who made this all possible. We would also like to thank the 2,500 people who voted for their favourite producers and outlets this year and hope that many more will vote next year, when we plan to introduce two more categories.”

The winners of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2006/07:

Best Sussex Eating Experience: sponsored by Business Link, helping link the producers with local restaurants, pubs and other outlets

Winner: One Paston Place, Kemptown, Brighton

Runners Up: Pokeno Pies, North Laine, Brighton and Alexander House Hotel, East Grinstead

Best Sussex Food Shop: sponsored by Strutt & Parker, leading Sussex property agents for land owners and farmers